luftmensch

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Pronunciations

luftmensch (LUFT-mensh) listen

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Definitions

  • n. An impractical dreamer without a definite income.

Example Sentences

  • "Yiddish teacher' is a luftmentsh job."

  • "My wife is such a luftmensch she missed our anniversary dinner because she was too busy reading her books!" (source)

  • "My wife is such a luftmensch she missed our anniversary dinner because she was too busy reading her books!" (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • לופֿטמענטש luftmentsh, lit. 'man of the air'

      • Who Uses This

      • Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

      Regions

      • North America
      • Great Britain

      Dictionaries

      • Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America, by Sol Steinmetz (Tuscaloosa, 1986).

      Alternative Spellings

      luftmentsh, luftmentsch, luft-mentsh

Notes

  • plural: 'luftmentschen'

    See also mensch.

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